Stimulus funds expected to flow to San Antonio River project

WASHINGTON – Despite political wrangling over the $900 billion stimulus bill in the Senate, San Antonio leaders left the nation’s capital on Wednesday optimistic that funds would flow to a river restoration project south of downtown.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said he was told by lawmakers and federal officials said that funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would likely remain in a final stimulus bill wending its way through Congress.

“That was a good sign,” Wolff said. “All the positive signs are there.”

Bexar County officials are seeking $69 million for environmental restoration of the San Antonio River from Mission Concepcion to the dam at Mission Espada.

The Corps of Engineers is nearing completion of the first phase of the project. Wolff and the San Antonio River Authority are seeking federal funds for the next two phases of the project in the stimulus bill.

Wolff said he was told by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., during a luncheon that a final stimulus bill could include more funds for infrastructure projects. And John Paul Woodley Jr., the assistant Army secretary for civil works, which oversees the Corps of Engineers, told San Antonio leaders that the river projects meets all criteria for prioritized stimulus spending.

Suzanne Scott, the SARA general manger, said the river project is “right in line with what they are looking for with the stimulus bill.”

The local leaders were in Washington for an annual trip sponsored by the Greater San Antonio and Hispanic chambers of commerce. They also spoke to lawmakers about the bill.

Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, has been an outspoken critic of the stimulus bill. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who is eyeing a Republican primary challenge to Perry in 2010, said she would oppose the stimulus bill as it stands.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, also opposes the measure.

“The politics are going to be rough on the issue,” Wolff said.

The House passed its $819 billion version of the bill last week without a single Republican vote. Senate leaders are trying to compromise on several spending measures in the bill to make it palatable to Republicans and moderate Democrats.